A 5-year-old boy died after Orange County deputies said his father forced him to do push-ups and squats for 20 minutes as discipline for acting up in school.
Darrell Avant Sr. was arrested Wednesday on child abuse charges. Following the 26-year-old's arrest, the Florida Department of Children and Families met Friday to decide whether or not a 1-year-old who was also in the home should be placed solely in the mother's custody.
A judge is expected to make a ruling later Friday.
Deputies said Avant took his 5-year-old out of school because he was acting up, and the two returned home to Avant's apartment on Burroughs Court, off Hiawassee Road near Silver Star Road.
According to an arrest report, Avant admitted to deputies that he smacked the boy's behind a few times and ordered him to do push-ups and squats for about 20 minutes.
It was then that the boy said he didn't feel so well, and complained of being hot and dizzy before falling unconscious. The 5-year-old was later pronounced dead Wednesday evening.
Deputies said the medical examiner found a number of bruises and contusions on the boy's chest, stomach, arms and back.
A witness told deputies she had seen Avant discipline the child before using a belt.